“We Mean It ….”

The new Album by the “Dick Smith Band” with 5 new tracks … all the singles and two live ones … from 1981. Remastered at EVE Mastering in Manchester England by Jim Spencer… Released by Sleaszy Rider Records on CD also avaiable for download.. from all the usual places ..

Some info about the songs with lyrics ….

Givin The Game Away

A song about a girl …………………………..

The Tribe

The Tribe is about comradeship, brotherhood and trust…when trust is gone nothing can be achieved…for a short while DSB were masters of their own universe…we could only see success and glory for the band and we all fully expected to be on our 40 th ” Take no prisoners ” anniversary tour this very year…the insidious beast that killed DSB stone dead still beats its shallow heart across many towns and cities of this our beautiful home in space…

we are the people living in our own landwe are the people fighting for our liveswe are the people no one seems to understandwe are the people no one seems to realisethe tribe deep in our hearts we know we’ll survivedeep in our hearts we knowwe are the people living life our own waywe are the people living life from day to daywe are the people no-one seems to realisewe are the people no -one seems to understandthe tribe deep in our hearts we know we’ll survivethe tribe deep in our hearts we know that we’re through the stormdeep in our hearts we knowwhy did you do that to me ..i thought you knewwhy did you do that to me i trusted you

Changing Places

Changing places follows on in some sort of mystical way from The Wanderer… Its as if the runes had been read and the ” simmering thoughts and bickering doubts” which most bands/people have..landed on the band in a rather unpleasant way…it is amazing when you hear One of the world’s great sportsmen/women or a brilliant actor admit to having grave doubts about there own ability and to the rest of us it is incredulous that it should be so but it is one of the conditions we as humans live with.. I believe animals have it as well but that’s a whole new story

Changing Places with someone you admireWho’s glowing stronger than the hottest fire Telling different stories giving the very same tale make sure this time you don’t failTelling different storiesOdds against you you’re not going to make itWhat is success and how might you just fake itSimmering thoughts Bickering doubts But keeping that goal in your minds eyeTelling different stories

Way of The World

I had a vision of a utopian society where ..everyone was equal….racism as a word
had never existed and sexuality a personal and private choice … I always find the word tolerance a troubling one…who are any of us to ” tolerate ” another human being

Cigar Shaped Thing

I saw a flying saucer once..honest ..up in the remote highlands of Scotland in 2005 with my partner she saw it too…thought it was a shooting star high in the western sky but when it stopped and did zig zag movements for a minute or so and then carried on at unbelievable speed into the night..it really was no shooting star….this track is about this very thing but written 25 years before we saw what we saw…recorded on 4 track Teac by Paul Madden…. i wish we could revisit the track all five of us in a proper studio and give it the treatment it deserved..this is after all a very rare demo giving an insight how DSB would sometimes write and this as far as i know is a very early version.. .live this would have been like some uncontrollable alien monster..and probably as was often the case i would have ditched some of the vocal melodies ..let the band take it some place they’d never been with it before and screamed the odd word or two and just enjoy listening to the band…i think PD’s riff on the fade out would have been made into an important part of any live version and i wouldn’t be surprised if someone samples it…and do you know what.. i think that would be great

walk along those distant shoreslook out towards those vicious seasbirds in flight and silver spheresbirds in flight and silver sphereswhat do i fear is it in my mindshadow ..falling..falling downcigar shaped thing..metallic spheressilent..oh so smoothfaster than the windred then green then back to redwhat do i fear is it in my mindshadow..falling..falling downmoving closer now so nearshadow falling..only fearschanging faces changing my lifeflying saucer taking me away

Shine

PD wrote the original music to this one .. and all the band put thier own parts in .. i put the words and melody on top…live it was one of our showstoppers…we had these amazing bright white lights that would illuminate the otherwise dark and anonymous faces that were the audience, although DSB audiences were far from anonymous and we were on first name terms with lots of them at the more intimate venues ….DSB fans are a special bunch and the love and support they have given us will never be forgotten or taken for granted by us the band…. …we shared their hopes and aspirations….and fears and for just over an hour at a DSB gig ..we were them and they were us…..all together….no messing….

Motorway Madness Live

Recorded at Sir James in Birkenhead , England on New Years Eve 1981 with 1,200 peeps having a great night …

The gig was mixed by “Pab” at the start of his career (AC/DC Sound Engineer) and recorded using only a mike at the back of the room by the desk . The song cuts out after about 6 minutes or so because the tape failed … we did not want to alter it in any way as it captures the energy of the night … Conway on drums …

The Wanderer Live

Recorded the same night in 1981 … The Wanderer was one of the first tracks that DSB did … PD wrote this before DSB started

I hadn’t heard this one for years either and was trying as I pressed play to remember what insightful words and heart wrenching melody I’d done for this one and fortunately there wasn’t one.. I sort of get going a bit but as I said about another track sometimes less is more.. who needs loads of words when you have That!!… I must have decided to slope off stage and grab a drink and I might have even just stayed at the side watching and listening… I think it was really clever of us how we avoided getting a record contract because if you saw and heard this live. as a promoter.. or a publisher.. or a manager.. You would have been totally captivated.. rubbing your hands with glee at the thought of future record sales and sell out concerts..of world tours and merchandising… how did it not happen.. DSB live… Mixed by Pab..who ironically became AC/DC main live sound engineer… How did it not happen…

Body Heat

PD wrote this one and I’ve just heard it again for the first time in years and actually pleasantly surprised.. All the ingredients for a good song are there.. Great rhythm by Paul.. Steve bass punchy and funky an early taste of things to come.. Swifty drummer does a great job.. Pd.. First of many great solo’s.. I remember recording this in Manchester and the studio owner was fixing the control room door with some heavy looking tools while we were recording.. .being Our first proper recording session.. We thought it was the norm… Producer Kev Roberts led us gently and expertly through the recording process….i remember coming back in the van disappointed as I thought my voice was rubbish.. 40 years later and I don’t think it sounds too bad… I didn’t half used to scream a lot though didn’t I..

Now when your feeling over 90 degrees.. When the high moon sun is all blazing and brightYour hot skin all naked and needing a breezeAll you want is the chill of the nightAll you want is the chill of the night alrightWhen you’re feeling over 90 degreesSteaming reeling bent at the knees It may seem indiscreet but watch out forA haze appears from the distant eastI’m in a heatwave and its no delightTrudging on with those blistering feetThe borders not far gotta hold on tight alright Watch out for that body heat